WINNIPEG — The Philippines’ largest fast-food restaurant chain, Jollibee, is opening two locations in Winnipeg — one on Ellice Ave., and the other in the Northgate Shopping Centre. The Ellice franchise will open in 2016 and the Northgate location will open sometime next year.
Jollibee, known as “The Mcdonald’s of the Philippines,” will offer the chain’s famous Chickenjoy fried chicken, burgers and cheesy spaghetti dishes.
“It’s like if you were a Canadian expat living in a different country, and a Tim Hortons opens across the street and you haven’t had a double-double in 10 years,” says Jonah Levine, sales representative, Retail and Investment at Cushman & Wakefield Winnipeg. “It’s a very important brand in the Philippines. It’s a very exciting addition to the landscape in Winnipeg.”
The locations were selected because they are in Filipino populated areas in the Winnipeg region.
There are more than 900 Jollibee locations in the Philippines and 30 in the United States. A Toronto location is expected to open sometime in 2017. [Winnipeg Free Press]
